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Opinion: Would you want to know if an employee working at the place you’re having dinner tested positive for COVID-19? Should owners be required to tell you?

What protections should restaurant patrons expect?(Photo: John Oncken)

In the last week I’ve heard from two individuals who work in the food industry and say they are aware of a restaurant still operating after one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.

One of the men wrote in part: “Today I called environmental services , who steered me to the dept of public health ‘covid hotline’. Sounds good right? It's the covid dead end line. They told me there was nothing they could do or enforce! Told me it’s every owner's prerogative to proceed as they see fit… Nobody seems to care.”

For the past week or so I’ve been in contact with the governor’s office about what happens now that the state is reopening. Things like, how will contact tracing work? How soon will be a complete system be up and running? What kind of enforcement power does the state have and how will it be administered?

I’ve also asked what happens with a situation like the one I’ve been told about, a restaurant where an employee tests positive for COVID-19.

Speaking in generalities, I was told by the governor's office that the state “will be using all tools available, including technology and electronic monitoring systems, to identify potential new cases and limit further transmission of COVID-19. ADHS is prepared to scale up contact tracing with additional personnel as needed.”

General guidelines versus specifics

I was also told that the state’s “approach has been cautious and steady—much more cautious than many would like—to ensure that as reopening happens, there is guidance and protocols in place. Arizona’s reopening has been gradual and guided by the data and public health officials. That will continue to be our approach going forward. We will continue tracking the data closely and taking action as needed to protect public health.”